There's been a flurry of news this week about Conservatives pressuring CHP candidates to quit. One of the most poignant stories comes out of Saskatoon, where supporters of Maurice Vellacott have been haranguing CHP candidate Dale Sanders.

Dale told me he became a CHP candidate because, although he respects Maurice as a fellow-Christian, he could no longer support the Conservative Party after their adoption of a policy that "The CPC will not support any legislation on abortion."

The Conservatives have thus abandoned the most innocent and helpless members of the human family: pre-born children.

Dale said, "I was left with no one to vote for."

I agree with Dale. The Conservative Party's behaviour reminds me of the 18th century story of a family of Russian aristocrats whose sleigh was being pursued across the snowy steppes by a pack of wolves. The Count and Countess in the story threw their children, one by one, to the wolves, in order to save themselves.

In the same way, the Conservative Party has thrown pre-born children to the wolves, to save their electoral prospects. Pre-born children don't vote.

But in the week before this story broke, I noticed a change on the CPC web-site: after more than four years of pushing by the CHP, the Conservatives have added a vaguely-worded promise that they will do something to stop the courts from altering legislation.

Good for them!

But does anyone think the Tories would have added that sentence to their web-page if they hadn't felt pressure from the CHP in the 44 ridings where we have candidates? Not likely!

The simple fact is this: every gain the CHP makes gives support to the Christian minority in the CPC caucus. However, if we withdrew our candidates—or if voters were to withdraw their support for the only federal party that bases its policies on Biblical principles—the Tories would continue unabated in their drift towards becoming 'Liberal Lite'.

As you prepare to vote, please consider this statement by a leading figure in North American evangelicalism:

Christians and politics

The church must take right ground in regards to politics… The time has come for Christians to vote for honest men, and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them… God cannot sustain this free and blessed country, which we love and pray for, unless the Church will take right ground. Politics are a part of a religion in such a country as this, and Christians must do their duty to their country as a part of their duty to God… God will bless or curse this nation according to the course Christians take in politics.

Charles Finney, educator, author and one of the greatest American preachers in early 19th century.